Committees

WABIP committees play an important role in programs and processes of our international organization. Competent, enthusiastic volunteers contribute to committee function to assure tasks are completed on time, and in a manner consistent with the mission and vision of the WABIP. Committee membership represents the broad geographical range of our society and is open to all members in good standing of the WABIP.

Nominations and self-nominations for open committee seats occur once every two years. Announcements of openings are made on the WABIP website, email notification and social media postings. Interested persons must complete the committee member nomination form and submit it to WABIP administrative staff. Please note that it is not possible to appoint every individual who volunteers for a specific committee and that self-nomination does not guarantee selection for that particular committee.

Each committee has a Chair named by the Chairman of the WABIP and up to seven committee members. Committee members are recommended by the WABIP Chairman based on the volunteer’s expertise, interest and experience after careful review of all applications. Committee selections must be approved by the WABIP executive board. Duration of service on a WABIP committee is usually for a minimum of two years.

Apply to be a WABIP committee member: You may apply anytime for a committee as long as a position is open. Please find the online application form and committee openings here.

Committees Mandated by WABIP Bylaws
Executive Committee
This committee conducts WABIP daily business and communicates regularly with the Board of Regents, all committees, taskforces and other WABIP groups, and the Administrative Office. Members of this committee are composed of those in the Executive Board only. Formally, the Executive Committee is a sub-committee of the Board of Regents.


Education Committee
This committee is tasked with overseeing various educational projects of the WABIP, proposing new projects and reviewing project proposals from any source. This committee collaborates with other WABIP committees/sections/groups, and is in constant communication with the Executive Board.

  • Chair: Jean-Michel Vergnon (France)
  • Past-chair: Ali Musani (USA)
  • General: Simon Marioara (Romania), Karan Madan (India), Fayez Kheir (USA)

Membership Committee
This committee liaises with potential members or member societies, in order to extend our services to countries without WABIP membership. This committee also provides strategy proposals for increasing WABIP membership, and makes recommendations of ways to increase benefits of WABIP membership.

  • Chair: Silvia Quadrelli (Argentina)
  • Past-chair: Wang Changhui (China)
  • General:

Finance & Fundraising Committee
This committee is tasked with providing financial analysis, advice, and oversight of WABIP budgets. This committee shall also seek fundraising opportunities and provide proposals to sustain the financial growth of the WABIP.

  • Chair: Ali Musani (USA)
  • General: Takashi Niwa (Japan), Danai Khemasuwan (USA), Ali Sadoughi (USA)
Other WABIP Committees
Media Committee
The objective of this committee is to promote interventional pulmonology via any kind of media. This committee also provides proposals to increase social media engagement in order to advance WABIP's mission of connecting a growing network of medical professionals devoted to the treatment of airway, pleura, lung and esophageal diseases.

  • Chair: Sameer Arbat (India)
  • Past-chair: Philip Emmanouil (Greece)
  • General: See Wei Low (USA), Hari Gonuguntla (India), Sanket Thakore (USA), Jose Miguel Laca Forero (Peru), Mounir Fertikh (USA), Ronald Fajardo (Philippines), Kho Sze Shyang (Malaysia)

Conflict of Interest Oversight Committee
This committee reviews all COI disclosures submitted by potential or existing members of the WABIP Executive Board, Board of Regents, Committees and other WABIP groups.

  • Chair: Eduardo Solis Garcia (Spain)
  • Past-chair: Fayez Kheir (USA)
  • General: Arvindran Alaga (Malaysia), Eric Tenda (Indonesia), Labib Gilles Debiane (USA)

Continued Medical Education Committee
This committee reviews all applications for endorsement or sponsorship of conferences, workshops, or congress-related educational and/or scientific activities. Applications for official endorsement or sponsorship are available on the WABIP website, and must be completed and submitted by the course director of the host institution or society.

  • Chair: Ales Rozman (Slovenia)
  • Past-chair: Mohammed Munavvar (UK)
  • General: Phan Nguyen (Australia), Fayez Kheir (USA), Upendra Kaphle (USA), Jonathan Kurman (USA)

Awards Committee
This committee reviews nominations and applications for the Killian Centenary Medal, WABIP-Dumon Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award. The committee also selects awardees after careful review of all abstracts eligible for the Heinrich Becker Awards for Research and Clinical Innovation.

  • Chair: Mohammad Ashkan Moslehi (Iran)
  • General: Jonathan Kurman (USA), Rajesh Thomas (Australia), Alex Chee (Canada)